We don’t regret embarking on strike – GMA

Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr. Justice Yankson, has defended their decision to sustain their strike for three weeks.

He said they don’t regret it in anyway and the subsequent repercussions their actions caused.

Dr. Yankson mounted the defense while answering questions on Eyewitness News on Monday.

He said “not at all, this is a genuine fight that we believe in.”

“This is a fight that we think shouldn’t have resulted in the first place. We are fighting for the future of doctors in this country, for people who are in the medical schools now, for people who are yet to be born and anybody who have dreams of becoming a medical doctor.

“So we don’t have any regret for anything that has happened in the last couple of days. In fact, we are very proud of the collective fight that as doctors we have put up and we will continue to put that up until the right things are done,” he added.

Media reports suggest that over 500 people lost their lives during the doctors’ strike.

However, Dr. Yankson said “the constitution, specifically the directive principles of state policy, enjoins the government of the day to ensure that the health needs of the people of Ghana are catered for…So if there were any shortcomings please direct that at the doorstep of the employer and not the Ghana Medical Association.”

The GMA suspended it’s three-week long strike, on Friday.

Government had earlier pulled out from negotiations with the GMA saying it will only resume when the strike is called off.

Meanwhile, government and the leadership of the GMA on Monday resumed negotiations.

Dr. Yankson speaking on Eyewitness News was hopeful the negotiations would be completed soon.